Method to read images and computer readable storage medium therefor

1. A method to create a data file in a controller device connected to an image reading apparatus which reads an image formed on a recording medium and generates image data representing the image on basis of an instruction inputted in the image reading apparatus by a user, the data file containing the image data, comprising: receiving an event signal generated in the image reading apparatus based on the instruction inputted in the image reading apparatus; obtaining the image data generated in the image reading apparatus in accordance with the receipt of the event signal; judging whether the received event signal is a first event signal in the controller device; setting the controller device to operate in a predetermined operation mode, in which the controller device stands by for a sequential event signal, when judgment is made that the received event signal is a first event signal from the image reading apparatus, the sequential event signal being an event signal sequentially obtained from the first event signal and sequentially generated in the image reading apparatus, the sequential event signal including identifying information to identify the image reading apparatus which is an origin of the sequential event signal; storing the image data obtained from the image reading apparatus in accordance with the receipt of the first event signal in a storage area; creating a data file containing the image data stored in the storage area; judging, when the received event signal is a non-first event signal received from the image reading apparatus in the controller device operating in the predetermined operation mode, whether the received non-first event signal is the sequential event signal based on the identifying information included in the received first event signal and the identifying information included in the received non-first event signal; adding, when judgment is made that the received non-first event signal is the sequential event signal from the image reading apparatus, the image data obtained from the image reading apparatus in accordance with the receipt of the non-first event signal to the image data contained in the created data file and updating the created data file as a single multiple-paged data file containing the image data obtained in accordance with the receipt of the first event signal and the image data obtained in accordance with the receipt of the non-first event signal; activating a timer to measure a predetermined time period at a predetermined time point after the receipt of the event signal, the timer located in the controller device; and releasing the controller device from the predetermined operation mode when a terminating event occurs, wherein the terminating event occurs when the predetermined time period elapses whilst the controller device operates in the predetermined operation mode without receiving a new event signal.

2. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising: releasing the controller device from the predetermined operation mode when a terminating event occurs, wherein the terminating event occurs when a predetermined terminating instruction is entered in the controller device.

3. The method according to claim 2 , further comprising: presenting an instruction entry interface, through which the predetermined terminating instruction can be entered, to the user when the controller device is operating in the predetermined operation mode, wherein the terminating event occurs when the predetermined terminating instruction is entered by the user through the instruction entry interface.

4. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising: assigning an identifying name to the image data obtained from the image reading apparatus in accordance with the receipt of the first event signal and stored in the storage area when the judgment is made that the received event signal is a first event signal; and identifying the image data obtained from the image reading apparatus in accordance with the receipt of the first event signal by the assigned identifying name and adding the image data obtained from the image reading apparatus in accordance with the receipt of the non-first event signal to the identified image data contained in the created data file when judgment is made that the non-first event signal is the sequential event signal sequentially obtained from the first event signal.

5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the event signal includes information concerning the image reading apparatus, in which a current instruction inputted by the user to read the image is entered; wherein the method further comprises: extracting the information concerning the image reading apparatus from the event signal when the event signal is received; and comparing the extracted information with previously extracted information concerning an image reading apparatus, in which a preceding instruction inputted by the user to read an image is entered, the previously extracted information extracted from an event signal generated on basis of the preceding instruction, wherein the judgment is made that the non-first event signal received in the controller device operating in the predetermined operation mode is the sequential event signal sequentially obtained from the first event signal generated in accordance with the preceding instruction when the image reading apparatus in which the current instruction is entered is determined to be identical to the image reading apparatus in which the preceding instruction is entered based on the comparison of the information extracted from the event signals.

6. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the event signal includes information concerning a type of a current instruction; wherein the method further comprises: extracting the information concerning the type of the current instruction from the event signal; and comparing the extracted information with previously extracted information concerning a type of a preceding instruction, the previously extracted information extracted from an event signal generated on basis of the preceding instruction, wherein the judgment is made that the non-first event signal received in the controller device operating in the predetermined operation mode is the sequential event signal sequentially obtained from the first event signal generated in accordance with the preceding instruction when the type of the current instruction is identical to the type of the preceding instruction based on the comparison of the information extracted from the event signals.

7. A non-transitory computer readable medium storing computer readable instructions that manipulate a controller device, which is connected to an image reading apparatus to read an image formed on a recording medium and generate image data representing the image on basis of an instruction inputted in the image reading apparatus by a user, to create a data file containing the image data, comprising steps of: receiving an event signal generated in the image reading apparatus based on the instruction inputted in the image reading apparatus; obtaining the image data generated in the image reading apparatus in accordance with the receipt of the event signal; judging whether the received event signal is a first event signal in the controller device; setting the controller device to operate in a predetermined operation mode, in which the controller device stands by for a sequential event signal, when judgment is made that the received event signal is a first event signal from the image reading apparatus, the sequential event signal being an event signal sequentially obtained from the first event signal and sequentially generated in the image reading apparatus, the sequential event signal including identifying information to identify the image reading apparatus which is an origin of the sequential event signal; storing the image data obtained from the image reading apparatus in accordance with the receipt of the first event signal in a storage area; creating a data file containing the image data stored in the storage area; judging, when the received event signal is a non-first event signal received from the image reading apparatus in the controller device operating in the predetermined operation mode, whether the received non-first event signal is the sequential event signal based on the identifying information included in the received first event signal and the identifying information included in the received non-first event signal; adding, when judgment is made that the received non-first event signal is the sequential event signal from the image reading apparatus, the image data obtained from the image reading apparatus in accordance with the receipt of the non-first event signal to the image data contained in the created data file and updating the created data file as a single multiple-paged data file containing the image data obtained in accordance with the receipt of the first event signal and the image data obtained in accordance with the receipt of the non-first event signal; activating a timer to measure a predetermined time period at a predetermined time point after the receipt of the event signal, the timer located in the controller device; and releasing the controller device from the redetermined operation mode when a terminating event occurs, wherein the terminating event occurs when the predetermined time period elapses whilst the controller device operates in the predetermined operation mode without receiving a new event signal.